7 - The Promise Arrives

So this is what Jesus meant when He spoke of the “promise of the Father” (Ac 1:4). Wow! What an amazing event! But, frankly, it’s so amazing that if I don’t understand what’s happening to these people I can easily end up in the same condition as the watching multitude: amazed and bewildered, which is to say, confused and frightened. Luke’s description of that Pentecost morning raises a lot of questions—questions I need answered if I’m to step forward and seek this baptism of the Holy Spirit for myself. So here’s what we’ll do today. First, we’ll examine the passage carefully to see what really took place. Then we’ll identify which promise was being fulfilled. Then we’ll ask the practical questions of what does God do to a person when they receive this gift. Then, let’s be very personal and ask what can I expect will happen to me if I receive it. And finally, let’s ask that nagging question that tends to linger in the back of our minds, can I really expect that God would give that same gift to me? What happened?